Why much of the pathophysiology of preeclampsia-eclampsia must be of an autoimmune nature

Preeclampsia-eclampsia (PE-E) is a poorly understood condition of human pregnancy, which can affect multiple organs and is a leading cause of maternal deaths worldwide. The etiology and pathophysiology remain enigmas, however, which hampers progress in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition. PE-E is characterized by many features typically seen in autoimmune diseases, or in association with autoimmune reactions. Although this does not mean that PE-E should be considered an autoimmune condition, it does suggest that abnormal autoimmune processes play an important part in the clinical presentation of PE-E. In that regard, PE-E mimics autoimmune responses also observed in situations of allograft rejection and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Indeed, PE-E shares many other clinical and laboratory characteristics with allograft rejection and GVHD. Recognizing PE-E as a clinical condition that is characterized by autoimmune abnormalities may facilitate earlier and more specific diagnosis, along with preventive and more specific therapies for women at risk.